This month’s safety tips focus on: On-line dating________________________________________Now, while we are all for people finding their perfect match, even if it is by an unconventional means… we do understand that there are some very real dangers that need to be avoided! This means of finding a date seems to grow daily with popularity, but not everyone online has good intentions!

There are many horror stories just like this one below from Andrea Bensons, a girl who was trafficked by a date she met online …

“There’s not a lot of safety on the dating websites,” Benson said. Some online sites screen their users, running them against a national sex offender database. Other sites don’t screen at all. Those are mostly the free sites. “They are not there to protect us. We have to protect ourselves,” she told us. After her trafficker got out of prison, he was immediately on five dating websites. Benson contacted each of those sites to warn them and asked them what their protocol was for registered sex offenders. Only one replied and took him off the site. All the [other sites] didn’t even reply,” she said.

Not all is as it seems, we want you to be safe… So, we have found this online article which has some great advice, for example:

1. Avoid those rose-coloured glasses. Be realistic.• Read the profiles of others with scepticism. As you correspond or talk on the phone, ask questions. Seek direct answers, and note any inconsistencies.• Trust your instincts. If someone is too assertive, moving too fast for you, or too personal, or you simply feel uncomfortable - don’t reply. No explanation is required.• Look for danger signs, such as a display of anger, an attempt to control you, disrespectful comments, or any physically threatening or other unwelcome behaviour.2. Set up a few safe first dates.Ultimately, you don’t really know who your match is, so:• Keep it short. Arrange to meet your match in a public place, such as a restaurant or coffee shop, at a busy time of day. Avoid secluded places, such as parks, or isolating activities, like hikes. Never meet at your place or theirs.• Come with your own transportation, and let a friend know where you’ll be going. If you have a cell phone, keep it on and charged.• If the meeting doesn’t feel right, or if it’s clear that the person wasn’t truthful in any way at all, leave at once and report any dishonesty to the dating service.• Never accept a drink that has not been opened in front of you, or leave your drink unattended.

Internet Safety Tips for Kids and Teens1. Spend time having fun with your parents online and helping them understand technology!2. Never post your personal information, such as a cell phone number, home number, home address, or your location on any social networking site or through mobile apps like Snapchat or Instagram.3. Never meet in person with anyone you first “met” on the internet. If someone asks to meet you, tell your parents or guardian right away. Some people may not be who they say they are.4. Check with your parents before you post pictures of yourself or others online. Do not post inappropriate pictures of anyone.5. Never respond to mean or rude texts, messages, and e-mails. Delete any unwanted messages. You may need to delete friends who continuously bother you or post things that are not appropriate.6. NEVER share your password with anyone, including your best friend. The only people who should know your password are your parents or guardian.7. If you wouldn’t say something to another person’s face, don’t text it or post it online.8. Do not download or install software or anything on your computer or cell phone before checking with your parents or guardian.9. Use the privacy settings of social networking sites.10. If anything makes you feel uncomfortable online, while gaming or when using your cell phone, talk with your parents or guardian right away.Source: Netwsmartz.org and safekids.com

‘Prevention Vs Cure’- a web-based organization that exists to prevent human trafficking and scams.Its founder Bertha Bresler shares the following with us:

“In 2014 I attended the MeCaht (Media Campaign Against Human Trafficking) Conference in Simon's Town, Cape Town. During a time of worship, God gave me this idea for prevention because it felt like there was a gap. Even though awareness is a part of prevention, we need a bonafide prevention idea to fill the existing gap.God and I conversed and I said, 'It's gonna be a good idea for South-Africa...' He said, 'Think bigger' I then thought along the lines of Africa and Europe and He once again said, 'Think bigger...' So I thought bigger, and I got a global mindset.

After months of research, Prevention Vs. Cure was launched on April 21st, 2015. Right off the bat we got a lot of enquiries. We learned way more in two weeks than we ever learned in 12 years of school. So to explain a bit - Prevention Vs. Cure is a web-based organization that exists to prevent human trafficking and scams. Since the start we've expanded into making sure au pair and recruitment agencies are legit. We vet job opportunities for you, making sure they are safe and secure and we also make sure that the people that you are going to work for are above board and not total freaks. We check out travel plans, by making sure that where you are going is as safe as it can be, and if you are going into so-called 'hotspots' we tell you what to look out for. We do this by using resources that are close at hand: Social media, apps, e-mail and phone calls. We are big believers in ‘using technology for the greater good’, and if you do a little research about it there is a lot you can do with very little resources. When a case seems extremely dodgy we refer it to the Police.

Since April 21st, 2015 we've had 1432 cases. Out of those 1432 cases, 931 cases were scams. Whether or not the client takes our advice is up to them. In some of the cases people we have investigated would be looking for au pairs and not even have children.We believe prevention is better than cure, hence the name Prevention Vs. Cure. If human trafficking can be prevented, the people involved don't have to go through the curing process. The curing process takes a very long time and is unnecessary if people would make use of the resources available to them. This whole service we offer is free of charge. It costs nothing to send us an e-mail and be safe... rather than sorry. Do research. Ask a lot of questions. Make informed decisions.”

To make use of this amazing online tool or share it with a friend simply go to:preventionversuscure.co